September 2003 Sky Events

Observer Location:Beijing (39.904°, 116.407°)

Monthly Sky Events Overview

24 sky events total, including 4 moon phases and 2 planetary events.

Daily Sky Events

All times are in local time (Asia/Shanghai)

Group Date Sunrise/Sunset Moonrise/Moonset Moon Phase Sky Events

Planetary outlook

September 2003 mid-month observing conditions

Mercury

Good
Apparent magnitude: 3.7
Constellation: Virgo
Angular diameter: 9.9"
Status: near greatest eastern elongation

Observation tip: Binoculars are recommended; Mercury stays close to the Sun; best seen at dusk or dawn

Right ascension: 10h58m42s
Declination: +03°54'41"

Venus

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -3.9
Constellation: Virgo
Angular diameter: 9.8"
Status: near greatest western elongation

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Venus is the brightest planet and is best seen at dusk or dawn

Right ascension: 11h59m04s
Declination: +01°32'27"

Mars

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -2.6
Constellation: Pisces
Angular diameter: 23.6"
Status: near western quadrature

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Its reddish appearance is obvious; it is best observed near opposition

Right ascension: 22h21m08s
Declination: -16°28'42"

Jupiter

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -1.7
Constellation: Virgo
Angular diameter: 31.2"
Status: near eastern quadrature

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Its moons are easy to spot and it is excellent for telescope observing

Right ascension: 10h24m53s
Declination: +10°49'49"

Saturn

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: 0.1
Constellation: Cancer
Angular diameter: 17.8"
Status: near eastern quadrature

Observation tip: Visible to the naked eye; Saturn’s rings require a telescope to see clearly

Right ascension: 06h50m44s
Declination: +22°11'00"

Uranus

Fair
Apparent magnitude: 5.8
Constellation: Pisces
Angular diameter: 3.7"
Status: near western quadrature

Observation tip: Binoculars are recommended; Binoculars or a telescope are recommended

Right ascension: 22h09m30s
Declination: -12°12'34"

Neptune

Fair
Apparent magnitude: 7.7
Constellation: Aquarius
Angular diameter: 2.3"
Status: near western quadrature

Observation tip: A telescope is required; A telescope is required; Neptune appears blue-green

Right ascension: 20h52m55s
Declination: -17°32'16"

Moon

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -12.7
Constellation: Taurus
Angular diameter: 11527.4"
Status: Moon illumination 83.0%

Observation tip: Moon illumination 83.0%; good for observing lunar surface detail

Right ascension: 02h33m47s
Declination: +14°00'28"